Mangled bodies littered the battlefield, blood stained the ground a sickening orange, and standing in the center of it all; clothes shredded and sword crusted in red stood a silver haired youkai, looking like a god of war.
Sesshoumaru regarded the death that surrounded him with a detached expression. Corpses mattered not. The only thing significant was the small, iridescent jewel that lay in his closed fist. Clutched in his pale fist was the reason for every death, every betrayal and every loss that had occurred in the past fifty years.
Only moments before he had thrust his hand into the kumo demon's chest, where a jewel had occupied the space of what could've been a heart. His hands clenched the jewel, the intense heat nearly overwhelming. Naraku had screamed- his violet eyes rolling back as Sesshoumaru twisted his wrist inside Naraku to free the jewel. He immediately injected poison into the bloody cavity. Naraku's mouth opened, but this time, a scream didn't escape, just a gasp that made him choke on his own blood. Swaying, Naraku remained standing only by Sesshoumaru's hand in his chest, which he quickly removed.
Still clutching the jewel, covered in his deadly poison, he watched as Naraku crumpled, coughing and convulsing violently. Hundreds of eerie, translucent demons suddenly tore out from the kumo demon's chest. Their mouths were opened in silent wails as they shot towards the red sky.
Sesshoumaru stood over Naraku, watching as his body blurred and the youkai features disappeared. Naraku opened his eyes- human eyes- and looked up with an almost apologetic expression. "You murdered Rin. You destroyed an innocent without a second thought. And now you will die as what you hate most," His voice was low, and Sesshoumaru had a hard time not choking on his words that stabbed little needles through his whole body with every thought.
Sesshoumaru turned his back to the fallen God- the shredded remnants of what'd been moments before, the most powerful, devious "youkai" in all of Japan.
He knew his half brother would finish the job- there was no way the half-breed could screw up a job so easy. Naraku was on the ground dying and Inuyasha had a sword. Even a child was capable of killing him.
Sesshoumaru scanned the barren ground emotionlessly, his eyes falling on the small huddled group of Inuyasha's pathetic, yet remarkably capable group. Not even listening to Inuyasha's angry, bitter voice as he kneeled beside Naraku, telling him all the pain he had caused, Sesshoumaru went to the bedraggled group. Blood dripped from his balled fist, his own nails digging deep into his pale flesh as he kept his fingers tightly closed around the hellish little jewel. His eyes fixed directly on Inuyasha's unattractive little wench. (A/N sorry, I REALLY hate Kagome) He tossed the bloody jewel to her, suppressing the smirk at the suspicious look that quickly flipped to surprise when she realized what the bloody lit orb was.
"Shatter the Shikon no Tama again and I will break every one of your clumsy little fingers."
Without waiting for a response, he turned to face west, the setting sun nearly blinding.
Without a backward glance, he walked slowly in the direction of the forest where he had left Ah and Un. He staggered slightly as he reached the shade of the clearing, finally breathing freely. His eyes lost some of the crimson that came with the inevitable bloodlust of being a full youkai.
He hissed in distaste at the mangled body that lay on the forest floor. He recognized the demon as the once beautiful Kagura, the one that Prince Kouga hated with passion. It was a pity, thought Sesshoumaru. Naraku's creations had all been so flawless as well as beautiful in an odd way. It was sad that they had to suffer their master's fate as well.
He walked on ignoring the pain that seemed to stab his entire body with every step and focused solely on reaching the far off clearing where he had left his two-headed pet. Suddenly, his keen senses picked up a youkai, an odd scent, very familiar yet different. The scent was somehow feral, wild and most inhuman, yet something was familiar in the scent of the youkai's blood. Sesshoumaru whirled around and raised one arm just in time to deflect and throw off the blow that had been meant for his face.
Juuroumaru slammed against the tree trunk having caught the full blow of the powerful youkai. He whimpered in pain and cradled his hand against his chest. Soft footsteps moved towards him accompanied by a low growl. Juuroumaru's eyes went wide as he backed further against the tree. In a moment of desperation, he had attacked without realizing the futility of it until he realized that his target had been none other than the beautiful and deadly demon who had taken on his cruel master.
Juuroumaru shuddered, realizing the full of extent of his foolishness when the inu youkai pulled him up by the neck, sharp claws sliding effortlessly into his neck, but not enough to kill, just to make him bleed. "I see we neglected to dispose of you, cowardly youkai. Or perhaps you were so adamant about running with your tail between your legs that you abandoned your master before the war even began…" his last words were meant to mock for in truth, he had seen the demon in the battle, just not for long.
Sesshoumaru recognized him as one of Naraku's creations, and if he could remember correctly, not a very intelligent one. He recalled the beginning of the battle, remembering seeing the youkai in a cage wearing a mask and shackles. He had fought against his chains and when he was let out, had tried to kill Naraku.
All had stared in shock as the demon began a series of rapid attacks at Naraku. Then came the oddest part. Naraku slashed the demon, his own incarnation, in the belly and a small, grotesque spider had shot out. At this, the youkai had screamed and an instantaneous change occurred in the youkai's demeanor. The perfectly emotionless oval face had turned feral. His eyes had dilated until you could hardly see any white at all and he had begun to snarl like an animal.
And now? Now the demon was bloody and bruised, his left cheek half congealed in blood. The slash was still visible across his stomach; bruises littered his arms and legs. His green clothes had been ripped and hung off his gaunt frame.
Sesshoumaru looked the demon straight in the eye seeing the expected fear as he always did before he killed, but something else lurked in the smoky purple orbs. Was it adoration? Awe?
The youkai lowered his gaze his cheeks burning. Sesshoumaru released him, watching as the creature stumbled away. He couldn't help but notice how very beautiful the youkai was despite his multiple bruises. Once the youkai was cleaned up, the dirty hair would be violet and his arms a pale cream. Sesshoumaru mentally reprimanded his own musing. The youkai couldn't live; he was part of Naraku. That thought gave him the incentive to raise his claw above his head, green poison dripping down his fingernails like blood. He prepared to strike, grimacing.
Juuroumaru was not about to be killed, not kneeling before the inu youkai who had killed Kageroumaru. Instinctively, he pushed himself off the forest floor and dashed around Sesshoumaru. The fear he had felt disappeared as bloodlust and fury clouded his mind. He let out a warning growl and red flashed before his eyes. Squaring off with the inu youkai, he lunged straight at him. Knowing that Sesshoumaru would anticipate him to strike head on, he stopped short at the same moment the youkai moved and before the other knew, Juuroumaru had side stepped as well, mirroring him and sent a knee into the stomach of the inu youkai. Sesshoumaru grunted but recovered quickly and hooked his leg around the youkai's back jerking him forward. Juuroumaru had no time to react when the inu youkai punched him hard, sending him reeling back.
They continued their reckless clash, Sesshoumaru finding to his surprise that the demon wasn't really that fast, but no matter how many blows he sent to the youkai, he just absorbed them. Sesshoumaru knew it had to end soon. With his youki whip he caught the other youkai mid-leap.
Juuroumaru was suddenly wrapped in searing pain, electricity ran through his whole body and had he had the strength, he would have screamed. His energy was drained from him as the coil tightened and finally, when he felt as if he truly wanted to be dead, the coil loosened its vice grip and he was dropped unceremoniously on to the ground, blood dripping from his body. Welts rose along the abraded skin, his breath coming in short gasps. He twitched violently, and when at last he had gained the will to bring himself up on all fours, he coughed violently, bringing up blood.
Sesshoumaru made his way over yet again and Juuroumaru was reminded painfully of the times Naraku had punished him, beaten him for attacking him and mocked him with chains and whips. Pearly tears fell from his violet eyes as he stared down at the bloody ground, unable to raise his head.
Sesshoumaru watched with a sort of morbid curiosity as the demon cried at his feet. With Sesshoumaru's amplified senses, he could hear the soft whimpers, smell the salty tears and see the slightly raised skin in the many places. The youkai had put up a good fight considering his condition, and his looks were awfully appealing…
No, He told himself firmly. The youkai would be a danger to him to all of his servants.
Again he glanced down at the beautiful, broken creature. For some reason, the image of Rin came to mind. He remembered his Rin… his beautiful, innocent Rin. Even though he hated to admit it to himself, something that happened often, he missed the company, the ever-faithful presence. And all because of the bastard Naraku…
What if he took the youkai, not to kill, but to take him back home? He would get his retribution against the deceased Naraku. Taking Naraku's very last "heir," if he could be called that, to serve in his own home could finally sate his yearning for revenge. Yes. It was the perfect plan. And if it didn't work out… he would simply kill Jurroumaru.
Sesshoumaru slumped ungraciously beside the crying youkai. "You have a choice, youkai," He said, his voice hoarse yet still possessing the air of a cultured lord. He waited until the youkai looked up before continuing, "Either surrender and submit to my law- or die."
The demon was visibly trembling now. His purple, feral, eyes stared up at him, uncomprehending. He passed out.
Sesshoumaru caught him deftly before his face hit the moist dirt. He easily lifted the surprisingly light body, ignoring the way the youkai's head lolled back and his neck bled. Obeying his instincts, which were like sirens in his ears, he tucked his bloody, matted pelt around the demon, ignoring the scoffing voice in the back of his head that scorned him for showing such compassion for another other than Rin.
Slowly, staggering every now and then, he made his way towards Ah and Un, barely able to mount. The dragon unfurled its handsome, leathery wings and took off. Sesshoumaru had difficulty staying on, half cradling the youkai, half gripping the reins. It would be a long ride home.
Juuroumaru looked dazedly upward, stars half obscured by a beautiful, pale face. The inu youkai returned the gaze steadily, ice fringing those gold eyes. The softness that had encircled Juuroumaru suddenly unfurled and he yelped and instinctively curled his fists around the inu youkai's haori, just above Sesshoumaru's armor.
"Release me," he said coldly. Juuroumaru shook his head in desperation gripping even tighter till he could feel his own claws piercing into the inu's skin. Anger darkened the amber depths and Sesshoumaru pried the first, then the second wrist away from his clothes. (A/N: ehehe… kinky, oh and he has both arms)
Before Juuroumaru could make an attempt to find purchase so he wouldn't fall, the inu youkai circled his pelt around him and positioned Jurroumaru in front of himself. Half encircling the battered youkai in his arms, he held the reins comfortably.
The arms around him tightened every time the inu youkai maneuvered their odd form of transportation, bringing warmth to his still shocked muscles. What was the inu youkai doing? Why was he still astride the dragon instead of hundreds of feet below, dead? His head fell back against the demon's shoulder as exhaustion washing over him. He breathed in the demon's musky scent, partially masked by the smell of blood. Without another conscious thought, he fainted again.